Taking Action

Keeping with the 12 Days of Christmas - Each day I am willing you to think about your business and todays challenge is to consider - Taking Action.

This is taken from my book "The Business Roadmap - 30 Essential steps"

This is the final entry in 2024. However, reading and following previous guidance does not automatically mean your business is in a better or stronger position than it was 30 days ago. You still need to take action. Knowledge is power, but power is useless unless you use it.

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If you need some motivation to take action, consider this: One in four men do not make any lifestyle changes after a stroke or heart attack, despite strong recommendations and advice from their doctor. These individuals have narrowly escaped death, yet 26% do nothing to avoid a repeat incident. This alarming complacency mirrors what we often see in business. Just like those men, business owners risk losing everything if they do not address weaknesses, adapt to market changes and plan for the future.

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It is recognised that a fear of doing something different is quite common, but success requires overcoming that fear. Never be complacent or too busy to make improvements. You do not need to make drastic changes immediately. Instead, reflect on what you know regularly, identify areas misaligned with your personal goals and your business vision, and spend 15 minutes daily planning corrective actions. Set goals, establish milestones, and determine who will work with you to achieve them. If you work alone, share your goals with someone and hold yourself accountable.

Just like in the game of chess, any player [or business], no matter how experienced, can fail if they focus on just one area, overlooking any moves or changes going on elsewhere on the board. Changes will expose weaknesses and ultimately be their downfall. Businesses of all sizes fail when they lose focus and are forced into rapidly developing new strategies. Whereas proactive planning is a far better approach to maintaining both operational and financial control.

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Always be aware that if you think you have everything covered, the only constant in business, is change:

·???????? Customer attitudes change,

·???????? Markets change,

·???????? The competition changes,

·???????? Governmental and environmental practices change,

·???????? Even the speed of change itself, changes.

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Get ready for change, adapt to change, and execute change.

Thank you for reading this guide. I hope you found it insightful.

I will leave you with one final thought:

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"Hope is not a strategy."

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If you are relying on hope to grow your business or navigate challenges, start planning for its failure, so it does not come as a surprise.

www.thebusinessroadmap.co.uk